Abstract
Mutations in polycystins (PC1 or PC2/TRPP2) cause progressive polycystic liver disease (PLD). In PC2-defective mice, cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate/ protein kinase A (cAMP/PKA)-dependent activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase/ mammalian target of rapamycin (ERK-mTOR) signaling stimulates cyst growth. We investigated the mechanisms connecting PC2 dysfunction to altered Ca(2+) and cAMP production and inappropriate ERK signaling in PC2-defective cholangiocytes. Cystic cholangiocytes were isolated from PC2 conditional-KO (knockout) mice (Pkd2(flox/-) :pCxCreER™; hence, called Pkd2KO) and compared to cholangiocytes from wild-type mice (WT). Our results showed that, compared to WT cells, in PC2-defective cholangiocytes (Pkd2KO), cytoplasmic and ER-Ca(2+) (measured with Fura-2 and Mag-Fluo4) levels are decreased and store-operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE) is inhibited, whereas the expression of Ca(2+) -sensor stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) and store-operated Ca(2+) channels (e.g., the Orai1 channel) are unchanged. In Pkd2KO cells, ER-Ca(2+) depletion increases cAMP and PKA-dependent ERK1/2 activation and both are inhibited by STIM1 inhibitors or by silencing of adenylyl cyclase type 6 (AC6). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that PC2 plays a key role in SOCE activation and inhibits the STIM-dependent activation of AC6 by ER Ca(2+) depletion. In PC2-defective cells, the interaction of STIM-1 with Orai channels is uncoupled, whereas coupling to AC6 is maximized. The resulting overproduction of cAMP, in turn, potently activates the PKA/ERK pathway. PLD, because of PC2 deficiency, represents the first example of human disease linked to the inappropriate activation of store-operated cAMP production.